World Changers Participant Reunited with Resident

Neptune resident Charles Scott visits with World Changers crew chief Courtney Spink during a World Changers project, July 6-13. During the week, two World Changers crews painted his house and built a wheelchair ramp. Spink, a member of New Hope Baptist Church in Watertown, N.Y., worked on Scott’s home five years ago. Photo by Carol Pipes

NEPTUNE, N.J.—Charles Scott almost didn’t recognize the face smiling back at him at his front door. Could this young woman be the same teenager who showed up at his house five years ago with a ragtag group of teens ready to paint his house?

Courtney Spink, of New Hope Baptist Church in Watertown, N.Y., was only 17 the last time she came to Neptune, N.J., to participate in a World Changers project. The opportunity to come back and help the couple she’d grown to love all those years ago was too good to pass up.

“I didn’t think I’d ever come back here,” said Spink, who served as a crew chief at the Neptune World Changers project. “And I didn’t think the Scotts would remember me.”

But the Scotts have never forgotten any of the young people who made such an impression on the couple.

“I was so very pleased to see Courtney,” said Charles Scott. “I love to be around these young people. They are just like family.

“We hear so much bad things about young people today. But these students are different,” Scott said. “They are nice, decent and respectful. Their parents are to be commended.”

Spink is one of 600 students and adults who participated in the combined Neptune World Changers and P2 Missions project, July 6-13. With 61 crews and approximately 100 work sites, the Neptune project was the largest this summer. The work in Neptune consisted of clean up and repairs from Superstorm Sandy, Backyard Bible Clubs, and home improvements such as painting and building ramps like the one at the Scott’s house.

Two crews started work at the house on Monday morning. One crew tackled the ramp project while Spink’s crew painted the weather-beaten house.

“Building a wheelchair ramp is going to help them so much,” Spink said, standing near a patch of orange dragon lilies. “Anna can’t navigate the steps with her walker to get out of the house, and she really wants to see her flower gardens.”

Charles Scott, 87, is thankful for the assistance he’s received from the World Changers crews at his house. “We’ve been fortunate to have them come and do what they’re doing. They’ve taken care of a lot of repairs around the house. And the ramp is really going to help both of us,” Scott said. “We are so pleased to be associated with folks like World Changers.”

The Scotts, who will celebrate 62 years of marriage in December, have lived in the cozy bungalow since 1961. They’ve celebrated five decades worth of birthdays, anniversaries and holidays with their three children. The wall above the sofa in the living room is a family tree of photographs from past generations to present.

But the Scotts aren’t the only ones who’ve been on the receiving end this week.

“Being able to give myself completely to God and allow Him to use me this week has been such a blessing,” Spink said. “Every time I’ve done World Changers I’ve come home changed.”

The Scott’s house on 6th Avenue is a little brighter today. A fresh coat of yellow paint is enough to cheer Charles and Anna Scott. And the new wheelchair ramp extending from the front porch is a much-needed blessing. But it’s the friendships-new and rekindled-that really warms their hearts.

by Carol Pipes, Communications Department

Neptune resident Charles Scott visits with World Changers crew chief Courtney Spink during a World Changers project, July 6-13. During the week, two World Changers crews painted his house and built a wheelchair ramp. Spink, a member of New Hope Baptist Church in Watertown, N.Y., worked on Scott’s home five years ago. Photo by Carol Pipes